Coming To America (1988)

Can a 21-year-old African prince find happiness and the girl of his dreams while working incognito at a fast food restaurant in Queens? In this hit comedy, Eddie Murphy plays the young royal who flees his country to escape an arranged marriage and find an American wife--but his deception could just as easily spoil the romance he starts up with the daughter (Shari Headley) of his employer (John Amos). Arsenio Hall, Madge Sinclair, and James Earl Jones also star. 116 min. C/Rtg: R

Harlem Nights (1989)

Set in 1930s Harlem, this comedy of gangsters and gunplay from writer/director/star Eddie Murphy features Murphy and co-star Richard Pryor as nightclub/brothel owners threatened by a thug (Michael Lerner) who wants a piece of their action. Just when it looks like they're about to be muscled out of business, the pair sets up an elaborate boxing sting to make off with the mobster's cash. Redd Foxx, Della Reese, Jasmine Guy, and Danny Aiello co-star. 118 min. C/Rtg: R

Boomerang (1992)

Eddie Murphy elicits non-stop laughs as Marcus Graham, a fast-tracking cosmetics firm executive and womanizer who finds the tables turned on him when gorgeous, strong-willed female Jacqueline Broyer (Robin Givens) is named his superior, and proceeds to turn the tables on him and strings him along romantically. Hit romcom also stars Halle Berry, Martin Lawrence, Grace Jones, Geoffrey Holder, Chris Rock, Eartha Kitt, and David Allen Grier. 116 min. C/Rtg: R

Norbit (2007)

Norbit (Eddie Murphy) is a shy, skinny nerd who gets an unexpected chance to reconnect with beautiful childhood friend Kate (Thandie Newton). There's just one really, really big problem: Norbit's overweight, overbearing wife Rasputia (a fat-suited Murphy) is literally standing in their way. Can Norbit get out from under Rasputia's shadow and help Kate save Mr. Wong's (also Murphy) orphanage? Cuba Gooding, Jr., Eddie Griffin, Katt Williams, and Marlon Wayans also star. 102 min. C/Rtg: PG-13